Photographic-printing apparatus.



S. A. SMITH.

PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION, FILED NOV. 23. 1914.

1,154,735. Patentedse t. 28, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l. 5% 2O S. A. SMITH.

PHOTOGRAFHIC PRINTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 23. 1914-.

1,154,735. Patented Sept. 28, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

M-M- @w' A s. A. SMITH. PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 23,1914.

1,154,735. PatentedSept. 28, 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

20 I IIEII/h 4 MmIIIIIIII IIIT 27 flfi" v Snoahtoz SIMON 9- SMITH SIMONA. SMITH, OF BURLINGTON, VERMONT.

PHOTOGRAPHIC-PRINTING- APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. .28, 1915.

Application filed November 23, 1914. Serial No. 873,545.

and useful Improvements in Photographic Printing Apparatus, of which thefollowing is a specification, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings.

My invention relates to the art of photography, and particularly tomeans for'print- 1n from photographic negatives.

he primary object of my invention is the provision .of a printing frameadapted to carry a plurality 'of negatives, and adapted to expose thephotographic paper to theaction of light for a predetermined andregulatable time.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a photographicprinting apparatus in which a plurality of negatives may be supportedfor the production of a-plurality of photographs, the frame being soarranged that while the sheet of sensitized paper is being removed,another sheet may be inserted and a plurality of sheets may becoincidently exposed to the light.

Afurther object of the invention is to provide a rotatable printingframe having means for supporting a plurality of negatives andsensitized sheets, these negatives being arranged so that at one periodof rotation the back of each printing frame will be opened, allowing theremoval of the ex- \posed paper, during which period the lights withinthis particular frame are turnedoff, and during another period the backof each frame vwill be opened so as to permit the insertion of a freshsheet in that particular frame, during which period a red light will beenergized, and during the remainder of the rotation the plate andsensitized paper will be subjected to the action of electric lightwhereby to cause the printing of the negative upon the sensitized paper.

A further object is to provide in a device of this'character a drumcarrying a plurality of printing frames and divided into compartmentscoincident with these frames and provide means for illuminatingtheinterior of each one of the compartments or cutting off thisillumination, and provide means for giving a step by step rotationto-the drum.

Stlll another oh ectis to provide means for automatically exposing thesensitized paper to light for a greater or less time, as may be desired.

A still further object is to so construct the back of each of the framesthat the back will be automatically opened as the frame arrives at apredetermined position, so as to permit the removal of the sensitizedpaper and the insertion of a fresh sheet and further provide means forreducing the shock or jar incident to the opening of the back.

Other objects will appear in the course of the following description.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure1 is a side elevation of a printing apparatus constructed in accordancewith my invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line 22 ofFig. 1;Fig. 3-is a perspective view of the device; Fig. 4 is a diagrammaticview showing the wiring and light timing devices coacting therewith;Fig. 5 is a detail view of the pawl and ratchet feed to secure a step bystep motion of the drum; Fig. 6 is a face view of the timing disk orplate.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and designated in all parts of the accompanying drawperiodof ings by like reference numerals.

Referringto these drawings, and particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, itwill be seen that I provide a drum or carrier 2 which is formed withopposed spaced end portions 3 and 4. These-end portions are mounted upona barrel 5 which is rotatable upon a shaft 6. This shaft 6 is mounted inany suitable manner upon a frame designated generally 7, this framehaving supporting legs, or being arranged in any desired manner. Thedrum is'rotatable upon the shaft and the shaft is adapted to be drivenin any suitable manner, as by means of a worm.

gear 8 and a worm 9. This worm 9 is mounted upon a shaft 10 supported inthe frame work which carries at its ends the band wheel 11 whereby powermay be applied to the shaft. It will of course be obvious that arotation of the shaft 10 will cause a continuous rotation of the shaft 6rotation'of the drum in a revers dlrection to that of the shaft. Thismechanism will be later described.

The drum or carrier 2 is provided, as illustrated in Fig. 1, with aplurality of compartments, each of these compartments being triangularin form and having the radially directed side Walls 12. These side Walls12 are preferably formed of highly polished metal, the polished surfaceof the metal acting as a reflector. I do not wish to be limited,however, to the use of metal in the side walls, as mirrors might be usedforthe purpose. The outer end of each compartment is preferably providedwith means for supporting therein the photographic negative 13, so thatthis negative may be readily removed and as readily inserted in place inthe printing frame formed by the side walls 3 and the reflecting endwalls 12.

As illustrated, the drum 2 is hexagonal in form so as to providesixprinting compartments, or frames, designated respec tively a, b, 0, d, eand f, (see Fig. 4). Each compartment is formed with a back designatedgenerally 14 which comprises an exteriorly rectangular frame designated15, which frame is hinged at 16 to a strip 16 extending across betweenthe walls 3 and 4 of the drum. This frame 15 is held .in

closed position by means of hooks or other forms of latches, and theframe 15 is only opened to permit the insertion or removal of thenegative 13. Extending across this frame 15 are a plurality of backsections 17, illustrated as four in number, and hinged to each other,one of the end sections being hinged to the frame 15, as at 18. Asbefore stated, these sections 17 are hinged to each other, and two ofthe sections carry upwardly extending U-shaped straps 19 extending intransverse alinement. Pivotally mounted upon the side wall 3 of the drumat the middle of each back section 14.

is a transvers ly extending bar 20 which passes through these U-shapedstraps 19 and has slidingengagement in these straps, as illustratedclearly .in Figs. 2 and 3. Ex-

connected with this finger 21 is a coiled contractile spring 22, theouter end of which is connected to. the outermost section 17,. as shownclearly in Fig. 2. I The bar 20 extends beyond the side Wall 4 of thedrum and is adapted to be engaged and held in locked position by meansof a latch 23. There are of course as many latches 23 as there are bar20, and these latches are mounted upon the side wall 10f the drum. Thelatches are held in position to engage over the ends of their respectivebars 20 by means of springs 25, i't'being obvious of course that thelatches may be shifted so as to disengage the bars 20 and that when sodisengaged the spring 22 associated with any particular bar 20 willcause the opening of the door or back. These latches are automaticallyshifted from engagement with the bars at a particular point in therotation of the drum. As illustrated in Fig. 3, a pin 26 is providedwhich projects from the frame and is adapted to engage each latch as itcomes in contact with the pin, withdrawing the latch from its engagementwith the corresponding bar 20 and causing the corresponding back toopen. The opening of each back ispreferably at a point where thenegative in that particular frame or compartment is inclined to avertical plane so that the printed sheet within the compartment mayreadily slide out of the compartment and drop into a box 27 intended forthe reception of these sheets. The back of the compartment remains openuntil the drum isturned one step, carrying the proper compartment into ahorizontal plane, as illustrated in Fig. 3, and a new sheet ofsensitized paper is inserted in this compartment and the back closed byhand, the proper catch snapping over the bar 20 of the back. The backthen remains closed throughout the further rotation of the drum until itagain arrives at the unlatching device 26.

For the purpose of giving the drum a step by step rotation, I mightprovide any suitable mechanism, but preferably I mount upon one end ofthe shaft 6 a crank 28. I pivot upon the frame the lever 29, one end ofwhich is connected to the crank by means of a link 30 and the other endof which is connected to a lever 31 by means of a link 32. This lever 31is pivoted upon the shaft Or axis of the drum and carries a pawl 33engageable with the ratchet wheel 34; which rotates freely upon theshaft 6 but is fixed to the drum. It will thus be obvious that eachrotation of the shaft will cause an oscillation of the pawl carrying thelever 31, which in turn will cause a predetermined movement of thedrum,-the extent of this angular movement being such that eachoscillation of the lever 29 will cause one step of the drum. In order toprevent any reverse movement of the drum and hold it steady at the endof each rotation or step, I provide the pawl 35 which is pivoted in oneend and which at its free end carries a tooth engaging the ratchet teethon the ratchet wheel 34. This pawl is held in close contact with theratchet wheel by means of a spring 36.

As before stated, I do not wish to be limited to the exact constructionherein shown, as it is obvious that many changes might be'made in thismechanism without departing from the spirit of the invention.

It is necessary that the photographic negative and the sensitized paperbe sub- "mitted to lightfor a predetermined time, and. that then theback 14 shall be opened to permit the discharge of the printing sheetand that at this timethe white lights previously burning shall be turnedout. It is also obvious that at the time the new sheet of sensitizedpaper is to be inserted, a red light should burn within the propercompartmentv of the drum so as to give out illumination whereby theoperator may see to placing paper on the negative without any danger ofexposing the sensitized sheet to the light before it is in'properposition with the back closed..,/To this end I provide in eachcompartment a plurality of solseveral compartments.

lamps. Preferably I provide two electric I lamps, designated 37 whichare white in color and preferably -disposed...at the ends ofthe'compartments, and I provide at the: 9 middle of each compartment ared lamp 38.

Mounted upon the frame of the machine and insulated therefrom is'acopper contact plate 39 which is shown in the 'face view in Fig. 6. Thiscopper contact sheet or 5 plate is fixed with relation to the drum.

This sheet has an arcuate portion 40 which of a circle as at 41,.-toprovide a'portion 42 r disposed nearer to the center of motion than theportion 40. Theplate 40 is then )5 further cut away as at 43 to providean.arcu-' ateportion which is still nearer to the cenfter of rotation.The plate is still further cut away rearward of the portion 43 toprov1de a portion 44 on a line within the por- 40 tion 43, 'and is stillfurther cut away to provide a portion 45 which is still nearer the. axisof rotation. It; will be noted'from F ig 6 that the portion 45 has anangular exten .of approximately 240 degrees, and the por- 46. tion 44has an angular extent of approxi- As illustrated in Figs. 2'and 4, thewire -mately. 180 degrees; the portion 43 has an angular extent ofapproximately 110 degree's, and the portion 42 has an angular extent ofapproximately .55 degrees.

46 leadingfrom one side of. each electric light 38 connectsit to abinding post operatively connected to a brush or pin 47 which n is sodisposed upon thefdrum that in its rotation it will wipe against theface of the portion 40 of the plate 39. During the is wiping againstthis portion 40 of the plate the lamp 38 of thatcompartment willbe en- 6ergized and-the compartment will be illuminated by a red light. Thereare of course as many of these pins or brushes 47 as there arecompartments, and whenany' pin passes out. of contact with the portion4Q of the 65 plate 39 .the corresponding red lamp will go out. Inasmuchasthis, portion 40 of the plate 39 is arranged above the shaft\ 6, it isobvious that a compartment will be illuminated with a red light when itreaches its uppermost position. Thus in Fig. 4, the

compartment 6 is being illuminated with the red-light.

I The. white lights 37 are shown as connected in series, and the-wire 48leading from each pair of whitelights connects to a post or brush 49which is adapted to also contact with the plate 39, but inwardof theportion a 40 thereof] In order to secure an adjustable regulation andcontrol of the time during which the white lights are displayed I-preferably so mount these brushes or posts 49 that they may be shiftedinward or outward radially from the axial center of the portion. so thatthe-brushes will wipe against any one of the portions 42, 43 or 45. It

will be obvious that if'any one of these posts or brushes wipes againstthe portion 45' the white lights will be energized during a rotation ofthe drum through 240 degrees, and that if the post or wiper be sodisposed as to contact with .the portion 44 thenthewhite light will be"illuminated during the rotation of the drum through 180 degrees, and

so on. Thus when the brushes are so adupper end of which is providedwith a plurality of perforations .51 through anyone vious that byadjusting the rods inward or outward toward the frame or shaft 6, thebrushes or posts 49' carriedthereby willbe adjusted either to contactwith the segment 42, the. segment 43, the segment 44 or the segment 45.It will of course be understood that the'contact plate 39 iselectrically connected to asource of current, asfor instance by the wire51 in Fig. 4, and that the wires 40 and 48 are connected at one end tothe re-' spective posts 47 and 49 and atitheir other ends connected tosaid source of current in any suitable manner, as by the wire 52.

The operation of my invention will be 106 of which.a bolt 52 passes. IIt will be ob-' plain from the preceding description, and 1 I periodwhen the. pin 47 of any compartment it will be 'bbserved" that Iprovided a printing device including a plurality of printingcompartments .or frames arranged in a barrel rgtatable around a commonaxis by a step by stepmotion, and

that. I have provided means for automatically opening the back ofeachcompartment of said Compartment and then turning on a red light in thatcompartment as it moves- :to a further predetermined point where a freshpiece of sensitized paper is to be inserted, and then deen'ergizing thered light and energizing the white lights composed in this samecompartment and keeping said lights energized while the compartment isrotated to its initial position.

I have found my construction extremely convenient in practice, andforming a relastep motion given to the barrelgives to the tively' largeoutput of prints The step by operator ample time to insert and removethe various sheets of paper to be printed. a

It will of course be obvious that I may I provide any suitable clutchmechanism if desired, but these negatives may be whereby the machine maybe disengaged from its driving mechanism so as to permit the negativeswithin the frame to be changed a negative and a sensitized sheet, meansmounted w1th1n the carrier for automat its travel.

{cally subjecting the negative and sheet to the action of actinic lightduring a predetermined portion of the movement of the carrier, and meansfor illuminating the negative and sheet by a non-actinic light during afurther portion of the movement of the carrier. I

2. In a photographic printing apparatus of the character described, acarrier movable in a closed path, means mountedupon the carrier forsupporting a negative and a sensitized sheet therein, means forautomatically subjecting the negative and sensitized sheet to the actionof actinic light duing a portion of the movement of the/carrier, meansfor automatically illuminating the negative and sensitized sheet withnon-actinic light during a portion of the movement bf the carrier, andmeans for automatically opening said closing means when the negative andthe sheet are illuminated by a nonactinic light.

3.. In photographic printing apparatus of the character described, aprinting frame,

means for carrying said frame bodily along a predetermined path, meanscarried with the printing frame for automatically illuminating theprinting frame with a white light during a portion of its travelsandmeans for illuminating the printing frame with a red light duringanother portion of 4. In photographic printing apparatus of thecharacter described, a rotatable carrier divided into a plurality ofcompartments, a printing frameforming the end of each of saidcompartments, illuminating means carried by each compartment, means fortermined angular rotation of the carrier, and means for energizing thered lamps during another predetermined part of the rotation of thecarrier.

6. In photographic printing apparatus of the character described, arotatable carrier divided into a plurality of compartments, a printingframe forming the outerend of each compartment, a back foreachcompartment. hingedly connected to the carrier and co-acting with thecorresponding printing'frame,a whitelamp and red lamp disposed in eachcompartment, means for holding the back of each compartment closedduring a predetermined portion of the rotation of the carrier, means forener 'zing the white lamp in each compartment w ile the back is closed,and means for automatically opening the back at a predetermined point inthe rotation of the carrier and simultaneously denergizing the whitelight and energizing the red light.

7. In photographic printing apparatus of the character described, arotatable drum divided into a plurality of .compartments,

the walls of said compartments having reflecting surfaces, aprinting'frame forming the outer end of each compartment and hinged to adrum, a back hinged to said printing frame, means normally urging theyback to an open position, a latch for each back holding it in closedposition, means for automatically releasing the back at a predeterminedpoint in the rotation of the drum to permit it to open, and means forilluminating each compartment Witha white, light while the back of thatcompartmentis closed; 5

8. In photographic printing apparatus of the character described, arotatable drum divided intoa plurality of-printing com-' partments, eachof said compartments at its outer end being constructedto support a anegative, a back for each compartment adapted to extend behind thenegative but having position, alatch holding each back closed, electriclamps in each compartment, means for deenergizing the lamps in any onecompartment while' the back of that compartment is closed, and means forautomatically releasing the back of any compartment hen it arrives at apredetermined posltlon.

9. In photographic prmtmg apparatus of means urging the back to an open'the character described, including a.rotatable drum divided into aplurality of compartments, each of said compartments being 4 formed atits outer end to support a negative time the energizing of said lamps.

electric lights disposed in each compartment 7 and connected on one sideto a source 'ofenergy, a brush forfeach'compartment disposed upon theexterior of the drum and connected each to its corresponding lamps,brushes being adjustable radially toward or away from the center ofmotion of the drum, a contact plate disposed concentric to the axis ofthe drum and with which said brushes contact, said plate being connectedin circuit with the source of energy, said plate being formed with aplurality of arcuate tracks of different lengths whereby to 11. Aphotographic printing apparatus of A the character described, arotatable drum divided into a plurality of compartments, eachcompartment being formed at its outer end to support a negative, a whitelamp in each compartment connected on one side to a source of energy,a'red lamp in each compartment connected on one side to the source ofenergy, a brush for each compartment mounted upon the drum and to whichthe other side of the red lamp is connected, a brush for eachcompartment mounted upon the drum and to which the other side of theWhite lamp is connected, a contact plate concentric to the axis ofrotation of the drum, havlng an arcuate 'portion or track with which thebrushes of the, red lamps, successively contact, and having anarcuate-port1on or track with which the brushes of the whitelampssuccessively contact, said plate of energy, and means for of thecharacter described, a drum divided into a plurality of printingcompartments, a

back for each compartment composed of a plurality of hinged sections, abar hinged said,

to one of said sections and extending across the other sections andoperatively connected thereto, latches mounted upon the drum, one foreach of said bars, and engaged therewith to hold the back closed, andmeans for successively releasing said latches.

13. In a photographic printing apparatus of the character described, arotatable drum divided into a plurality of printing compartments, a backfor each compartment comprising a plurality of sections hinged to eachother and one of said sections being hinged to the side wall of saidcompartment, a bar extending transversely across the several sectionsand hinged to the wall of the compartment, U-shaped members attached tothe sections and extending over said bar and permitting the bar to havea predetermined movement independent of the sections, a spring urgingthe free end of the bar outward, a plurality of latches mounted upon'thedrum, one for each bar, and engaging the bar to hold the correspondingback closed, and means for successively releasing said latches to permitthe opening of the back; g,

14. In photographic printing apparatus of the character described, arotatable drum divided into 'a plurality of printing compartments, meansfor supporting negatives and sensitized paper within said compartments,a shaft passing through the drum, a ratchet wheel carried by the drum,means for rotating the shaft continuously in one direction and meanscarried by the shaft and operatively engaging the ratchet wheel to causea step by step rotation of the drum upon a continuous rotation of theshaft.

15. In photographic printing apparatus of the character described, adrum divided into a plurality of printing compartments and adapted tosupport a negative in the outer end of each compartment,-a rectangularframe disposed in'th'e outer end of each compartment and hinged to one"of the end Walls thereof for movement in a plane parallel to the planeof rotationof the drum, a back hinged to said rectangular frame formovement at right angles thereto, means for latching said back in closedposition, and means for releasing the latching means at a predeterminedpoint in the rotation of the drum.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence oftwo witnesses.

' SIMON A. SMITH. Witnesses:

VAN A. NYE, N. K. BROWN.

